Multiple pages turning slowly was the only sound in this exquisite room filled with expensive furniture and decorations.
Soon later, the scribbling of the pen also made light noise in this rather quiet space.
Behind the desk, a personnel with a black suit adjusted his glasses as he intently read the important files in front of him.
That's Zaizen.
Zaizen Myoji.
He was juggling on whether to sign it or not because it concerned the financial situation of a business he invested in.
It was quite a complex matter so he had to be careful with his decision.
*Knock!* *Knock!* *Knock!*
He looked up to his door and asked.
"Who is it?"
On the other side, the person responded without telling their name.
"I am here to return your Pielser, Zaizen-sama."
Zaizen immediately recognized the individual and took off his spectacles.
"Come in."
The door opened and there appeared Yemon. He closed it and ventured inside the room.
He saw that Zaizen was rubbing his eyes and feeling tired.
"Should I come later?" Yemon proposed.
"No, it is okay. Have a seat."
He obeyed Zaizen and sat on the chair in front of him.
Zaizen put on his spectacles back, proceeded to close the file and took a break.
He was treading on mental stress for a while so he deemed that it was enough hard work for the day. There is always another day to complete his necessary tasks.
"How have you been, Se-..... I mean Yemon."
Zaizen almost blurted his real name due to fatigue. Yemon was not that discontent with his small blunder since it was not that serious.
"Zaizen-sama, you are too tired. Everybody does not know me as Yemon except you and those bunch of dangerous criminals. It is okay to call me by my real name."
"Ah, is that so. Then, Seo-kun, I need to have some fresh air. Would you mind if you accompany me for a stroll through my garden?"
Yemon, whose surname is Seo, smiled and agreed to his requests.
They both stood up and Seo followed Zaizen as he exited his office room. Yemon closed the door behind him and continued to walk beside Zaizen.
Zaizen lived in a luxurious bungalow in an affluent neighbourhood. Amongst the multiple residents, he is the only noble.
His place sticks out from the rest just by looking at his house.
The outsides are just as impressive as the insides. Maids and butlers could be seen everywhere.
A butler was passing by Zaizen and Seo. Zaizen signalled him to stop and ordered.
"Can you prepare 2 glasses of orange juice? I will be strolling in my garden."
"Yes, Zaizen-sama."
The butler went in the direction of the kitchen with the number of tasks raised by one more.
Zaizen's office was situated on the first floor of his bungalow. So he had to go down the elegant stairs, the wooden railing being carved with an artistic design.
"Now that I think about it, you haven't met my wife and my daughter, is that right?"
Seo was troubled by his question.
"...No Sir."
"Then I am going to introduce you to them."
Seo tried to refute what he said. He was against him on this one.
"But, Zaizen-sama, is it really that necessary to meet them? Would not reducing my presence in this house be safer?"
Zaizen adjusted his spectacles.
"I understand what you are saying. But you do not have to worry about it. Either you meet them or not does not make any difference."
Seo was confused at his claim.
"The truth is, my wife and my daughter also know about my situation."
He was surprised. Seo thought that Zaizen was the type of person to not let anyone knows about his problem. Solving them in clandestine was the kind of idea Seo had on him.
Meeting Zaizen a few times does not fully unveil his personality and Seo comprehended that he does not have a complete grasp on his personality and nature.
Spending time with him would help Seo but unfortunately, it is not that easy.
Because he has 8 ticking bombs to work with.
As they came down the stairs, a woman dressed nobly in an expensive green gown, embellished with a white floral pattern along its three quarter length sleeves, walked in their direction.
This gown reached down till her ankles as it subtly dragged on the floor but she does not have to worry about her outfit being sullied.
It is because the floor was that clean.
She came near Zaizen making it easier for Seo to identify her facial features clearly.
Her long black hair curled ostentatiously.
Her petite face clad in minimal makeup gave off a radiant aura. The scent of her perfume tantalized her surrounding wherever she walked.
Her pointy nose, red lips, small ears and her rosy cheek were all placed perfectly on her fragile-looking face.
"Dear, you look tired." Her worries overtook her casual expression as she noticed his husband's exhausted eyes.
"There was just too much work. Do not fret over me so much. I am taking care of myself by taking some fresh air."
"Seriously, you should detect this earlier to avoid such unhealthiness."
"I am sorry. I will be more careful next time." Zaizen smiled reassuringly to his wife.
Seo hasn't seen him smile like that. But it is not that strange. There is a line between work and family. Taking your mask of work off for your family is a must.
The woman noticed Seo behind Zaizen with her slit thin eyes. She thought perhaps he had some business with her husband so she inquired.
"Who is this young gentleman?"
As Seo knew who she was talking about, he immediately bowed and greeted her.
"Good afternoon, Madam."
"...Good afternoon."
She glanced at her husband, signalling for him to identify this young man. Zaizen introduced his wife first.
"Seo-kun, this is my wife, Fumiko. Fumiko Myoji."
"Seo-kun...?" Fumiko tilted her head and recognized that familiar name somewhere
All of a sudden, she wore a smiling face.
"Are you the knight that has been helping my husband?"
Seo assumed that Zaizen has already told her wife. So he wasn't that much astonished by her knowledge of this matter.
She even knows that he was a knight so it would be stupid of him to deny everything blurted.
"Yes, I am indeed that person.''
"Oh my, it is a pleasure to meet you. I heard that you have been aiding us.... despite our family being disliked."
".....Fumiko."
Zaizen refrained Fumiko to not speak further than this. She couldn't ignore Seo being involved with them, fully knowing their family situation.
Seo darted a look at Zaizen with mixed emotions but instantly stabilised himself.
"No ma'am. That poses no problem for me. In the end, I am lending a hand to a family in need."
"Ara. That is so kind of you. Thank you very much for your assistance."
"No, it is nothing."
Things seem to be going well as Seo strayed the conversation back on the normal track. On that note, Zaizen steered it and took his leave with Seo.
"Now that you have met my wife, let's go see my daughter. Fumiko, where is she?"
Fumiko dropped her smiling expression slightly and answered Zaizen with a deflated tone.
"She is still training, that girl."
"Is that so? Then I'll be going. Later."
"Later, Dear."
Zaizen and Seo both left Fumiko and headed to the main door. One of the guardsmen opened it for his master. Seo followed behind.
The sun rays hit directly Zaizen eyes through his spectacles.
His eyebrows twitched and proceeded to block the rays with his hand.
The pupils adjusted to the amount of brightness accordingly, preventing his eyes to be damaged. It took some time but he came out of it.
Seo followed Zaizen on the green grass they walked on. The beautiful flowers the gardener planted started to waft the enticing scent into the air.
No matter how much time Seo passed through here to the bungalow, he cannot get adapted to this endearing atmosphere.
The flowers and trees are so beautiful and colourful.
They strolled without uttering a word. Seo did not disturb Zaizen with his talks. It looked like he was having a good time so he let Zaizen take in some fresh air.
Zaizen aimlessly and leisurely walked through his vast garden while Seo was still behind him.
Then suddenly, Seo heard loud repeated gusts of wind.
*Whoosh!* *Whoosh!* *Whoosh!* *Whoosh!* *Whoosh!*
Zaizen also detected that noise so he went to investigate alongside Seo.
From a distance, they saw a girl wielding a wooden sword, slicing the air vertically.
*Whoosh!* *Whoosh!* *Whoosh!* *Whoosh!* *Whoosh!* *Whoosh!*
Zaizen instantly guessed who it was so he sighed. He approached her and observed.
Seo too came near her and watched. There was a maid that stood next to her as she held a towel in her hand.
The girl had swaying long black hair reaching down her waist. The amount of concentration her slit black eyes demonstrated was immense.
She was perfectly swinging down the sword. Not even faltering a bit to the sides.
However, the fatigue was getting to her and her form started to crumble.
Seo did not know how long she was like this so he did not judge her stamina immediately.
"That's enough, Ahmya."
Zaizen's order went unheard.
His daughter, Ahmya continuously swung the wooden sword despite her incorrect posture. Zaizen closed his eyes and couldn't be asked of her defiance.
"Ahmya." He called out once again but in vain.
It just made her click her tongue with annoyance due to his presence. Zaizen waited for a few seconds before deciding to call her for one last time.
This time, the volume of his voice raised.
"Ahmya!"
*Whoosh!*
She stopped and paused for a while. She called the maid over to her then took the towel. Her drooling sweats were all wiped.
Her face had little emotions when she veered towards her father and Seo. Ahmya's face could be considered 'evil-looking' if you take intk account of her slit eyes.
Her expression also encouraged her to look so villainous.
"Continuing with that form is pointless."
"....."
Ahmya did not pay attention to her dad. From this point on, Seo deduced that she was in a bad relationship with her father.
Anyway, Zaizen steered the subject to Seo's presence.
"Ahmya, meet Seo-kun. He is the knight that has been helping me with the project."
"Heeeh....."
There was not a shred of courtesy but she was intrigued when she heard the word 'knight'.
Now it was Seo's turn.
He respectfully bowed to the noble lady introduced himself
"Nice to meet you, Ahmya-sama. My name is Seo-"
*Whoosh!*
*Crack!*
The wooden sword was broken in two.
Ahmya had swung the sword to Seo's head. However, he raised his left forearm and blocked her attack.
Upon impact, the wooden sword met its fate
Zaizen was surprised for a moment but he realized that no one was hurt, especially Seo.
Seo was indifferent to her attacks because he detected that Ahmya's eyes changed when she heard 'knight' from Zaizen's mouth.
He did predict some kind of test but not that quick and intense.
Ahmya and Seo had a staredown which neither of them backed down.
Ahmya though was overwhelmed by the fact that her attack failed.
For a few seconds, those two went on when the first one to break the line of sight was Ahmya. She became irritated by him so she decided to leave.
She walked in the direction of their bungalow as the maid followed her.
"I am sorry for her behaviour, Seo-kun."
"This is just a minor trouble compared to who I have met before."
"I am sorry for that as well."
"No no."
Seo fended off Zaizen's apologies and moved on.
They arrived at a small but lavish white table with a beautifully coloured umbrella that gave shade to a wide span of the area around the table.
It had 3 chairs meant for small meetings. Seo sat down after Zaizen made himself comfortable on the chair.
As soon they took their positions, a butler approached them. He was carrying a tray with two glasses of orange juice.
Zaizen took the initiative to drink the juice and discuss Seo's presence here.
"So, Seo-kun, what brings you here?"
"...First of all, I want to return the Pielser that you gave to me. It proved to be very useful for the progression of this project. Thank you very much."
He took out the Pielser and placed it on the table.
"Do not thank me. You used this tool in a good way for your situation. Majorly, it is all your part."
"Thank you for the compliment."
Seo took a sip from his glass. The taste was enjoyable as he took more than a sip to savour this drink.
Zaizen did not mind his little action but he proceeded with the main matter.
"Is the project in phase 2?"
"Yes, Zaizen-sama."
"Do you see any problems emerge from that?"
"There may be some frictions but you can leave that to me."
Zaizen sneered, "That's what I like to hear."
"Your words encourage me to move on."
"...."
Zaizen drank the juice but was in deep thought. There was a slight pause in the conversation between them but at last, he broke the silence.
"How is your mother, Seo-kun?"
Seo's face was dispirited as he looked down. Zaizen's smile too deteriorated.
"So she is not fine....."
"...."
Zaizen was met with silence. He put down his glass and adjusted his spectacles.
Seo responded, "Due to your help, doctors have started the treatment but, the probability of success is slim."
Hearing that, Zaizen regained his positivity. He confronted Seo with an optimistic tone.
"So there is a chance."
Seo looked up, straight into Zaizen's pair of eyes.
"Don't lose hope right now. You are going to regret it later."
"Zaizen-sama....."
The pessimistic thoughts slowly faded, resulting in the expectation of a desirous outcome.
Seo felt grateful to Zaizen because he aided him in multiple ways and he will never forget that.
"I will, Zaizen-sama."
Seo, alias Yemon was more motivated to continue his mission for his mother's well-being.